The Electoral Commission of Ghana (EC) has directed its officers to register new voters offline if they encounter difficulty with the online registration system in the ongoing Limited Voter Registration exercise.

This followed reports of network connectivity challenges related to the online registration system which delayed the registration process in some centres on Tuesday morning.

The EC had explained that the online registration system would make it possible to immediately detect double registration at the point of registration.

Dr Serebour Quaicoe, Director of Electoral Services at the EC, told the Ghana News Agency Tuesday evening that there were “initial hitches” with the system on the first day.

He said the situation would normalise as the exercise progressed.

“We have asked them (officers) to switch offline if they encounter challenges.

“All those registered offline, the system will review their identities and if their names appear on the multiple list they will not vote,” Dr Quaicoe said.

Dr Quaicoe said the registration exercise was generally smooth except for some disruptions caused by the rains in most parts of the country.

The registration, which is in accordance with Article 45 of the 1992 Constitution, is underway at the 268 District Offices of the Commission.

The exercise was scheduled to commence at 0800 hours but delays in connecting to the EC’s online registration system in some centres monitored by the Ghana News Agency led to the exercise starting as late as 1000 hours in some of the centres.

The exercise closed at 1700 hours and will continue until October 2, 2023.

Residents of Gomoa Aboso, located in the Gomoa Central district of the Central Region have been thrown into a state of shock following the discovery of a two-week-old baby abandoned on a heap of refuse in the community.

The baby was found wrapped in a cloth and placed in a black polythene bag. The lifeless baby was discovered by the residents on Tuesday.

They heaped curses on the faceless mother who might have perpetrated the act.

Assemblyman for the area, Isaac Gyesi Korsah condemned the dastardly act and urged the youth to refrain from such inhumane acts.

President Akufo-Addo has reaffirmed his commitment to due process in the fight against corruption.

According to him, he will continue to chart this cause despite being labelled a “clearing agent” by some critics.

“There are some who refuse to accept my method of proceeding and characterise me as a clearing agent. Because for them, the mere allegation without more is enough to merit condemnation of the public officer,” he said.

Speaking on Monday, September 11, 2023, during the 2023 Ghana Bar Association Conference held at the University of Cape Coast, President Akufo-Addo addressed concerns about his approach to combating corruption.

He stated that there are individuals who criticise his method, characterising him as a “clearing agent” because they believe that merely alleging corruption is sufficient to condemn a public officer.

However, President Akufo-Addo emphasised that he will not compromise due process in the fight against corruption, regardless of the criticism or the cloud of misunderstanding that may surround his stance on corruption.

“For my part, I will not set aside due process in the fight against corruption. No matter how much opprobrium this incurs for me,” he added.

During his address, the President reassured the public that none of the state’s accountability institutions, including the new Office of Special Prosecutor, have reported any interference from the executive branch regarding their investigations.

He underscored the importance of these institutions in upholding the rule of law and ensuring that justice is served.

President Akufo-Addo’s remarks underscore the importance of adhering to established legal procedures and respecting the principles of fairness and justice in the fight against corruption in Ghana.